Shade tree mechanics

[BigV]

NOW you tell me....

Specific question. I got the transaxle in last night for the second time, including the bearing and fork... Oops. Anyhow, I can't get the two very large transaxle to mount bolts started. I've moved the transaxle up and down and wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle, yeah!... Nuffin. Can't start them by fingers. The bolts starting threads are slightly tapered, not just squared off, in some nod toward letting the bolt draw the hole over to it. But there is no way in hell the bolt will scootch over the transaxle to line up with the hole in the mount. No way. So I have to have the holes already aligned. Which I have done as well as I can do / see. But they're not starting.

I can only think to use my impact driver and a socket to simultaneously apply force and torque.
I'm really really fearful of fucking up the threads. Not on the one dollar steel bolt, but on the aluminum transaxle.

Any suggestions?

Please?